Luksika gets tough end of the draw

The 88th ranked Luksika, who lost in the second round last year to eventual champion Maria Kirilenko of Russia, was drawn to face Germany’s Julia Georges, a former world No 15 who is currently ranked 73rd.

Georges, who has two WTA titles under her belt, is known for her booming groundstrokes. She reached at least the third round of every Grand Slam with two back-to-back fourth rounds in Melbourne as her best result in a major.

Also in the same section of the draw are former Grand Slam winner Svetlana Kuznetsova. The Russian who enters the tournament with a wildcard will take on Zhang Shuai of China.

Top seed and last year’s finalist Sabine Lisicki of Germany will open her campaign against Donna Vekic of Croatia while former semi-finalist Sorona Cirstea of Romania will meet Anna Schmiedlova of the Slovak Republic. Fourth seed Elena Makarova of Russia will play a qualifier.

Two Thais have been awarded wildcards into the main draw. Peangtharn Plipuech is handed a tough task against former two-time champion Vera Zvonareva of Russia while Nicha Lertpitaksinchai will face a qualifier.

In the first qualifying round yesterday, top seed and world No 141 Olga Puchkova of Russia struggled to beat Ukraine’s Olga Savchuk 6-4 4-6 7-5 in two hours and 10 minutes. Second seed Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia had no problem beating Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-4 6-3. 

Seventh seed Sachie Ishizu of Japan saved three match points at 4-5 in the final sets to beat compatriot Risa Ozaki 0-6 6-4 7-5 while fourth seeded Anastasia Rodionova of Australia ousted Alisa Kleybanova of Russia 6-4 6-4. Fifth seed Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia easily trounced local No 2 Noppawan Lertcheewakarn 6-1 6-2 in just 52 minutes, Ying-Ying Duan of China upset eight seed Paula Kania of Poland 6-4 6-4.

The 2013 world junior No 1, Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, upended third seed Zarina Diyas of Uzbekistan 6-2 7-6 (7-4).